Meleeka Clary-Ghosh v. Michael Ghosh (mem. dec.)

MEMORANDUM DECISION
FILED
Pursuant to Ind. Appellate Rule 65(D), this
Dec 05 2018, 6:12 am
Memorandum Decision shall not be regarded as
precedent or cited before any court except for the purpose CLERK
of establishing the defense of res judicata, collateral Indiana Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
estoppel, or the law of the case. and Tax Court
APPELLANT PRO SE ATTORNEY FOR APPELLEE
Meleeka Clary-Ghosh Michael Ghosh
Carmel, Indiana Carmel, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
Meleeka Clary-Ghosh, December 5, 2018
Appellant-Respondent, Court of Appeals Case No.
18A-DR-821
v. Appeal from the Hamilton Superior
Court
Michael Ghosh, The Honorable Gail Bardach, Judge
Trial Court Cause No.
Appellee-Petitioner.
29D06-0908-DR-2586
Riley, Judge.
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STATEMENT OF THE CASE
Appellant-Petitioner, Maleeka Clary-Gosh (Mother), appeals the trial court’s
denial of her Motion to Correct Error with respect to modification of custody
and parenting time, child support arrearage, modification of child support, and
the award of attorney fees in favor of Appellee-Respondent, Michael Ghosh
(Father).
We affirm in part, reverse in part, and remand with instructions.
ISSUES
Mother presents nine issues on appeal, which we consolidate and restate as the
following five issues:
(1) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying Mother’s
petition to modify custody;
(2) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by denying Mother’s
petition to modify parenting time;
(3) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in denying Mother’s request
to modify her child support obligation;
(4) Whether the trial court abused its discretion in holding Mother in
contempt for failing to pay her child support arrearage; and
(5) Whether the trial court abused its discretion by ordering Mother to pay
Father’s attorney fees.
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FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY
In September 2007, Mother and Father got engaged, and on December 1, 2007,
the couple got married. In January 2008, Mother moved from Boston to
Carmel, Indiana, with Father. Mother also brought along her two daughters
(Daughters) from her prior relationship. On June 26, 2008, the couple
welcomed their only son, M.G. (Child). On August 13, 2009, Father filed for a
divorce in Hamilton County Superior Court. By preliminary order, the trial
court ordered joint legal custody, with Mother having primary physical custody
of the Child.
Sometime thereafter, the trial court appointed a custody evaluator at the request
of Father. On January 8, 2010, the custody evaluator filed a report with the
trial court, in which he recommended Father to be the sole legal and primary
physical custodian of the Child. On August 30, 2010, following a hearing, the
trial court issued an order (Custody Order), awarding Father sole legal and
primary physical custody of the Child. Mother was awarded overnight
parenting time every Wednesday from 6:00 p.m. until Thursday at 10:00 a.m.;
and alternating weekends, beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and continuing
until Monday at 10:00 a.m. No child support was ordered.
On January 4, 2011, the parties’ marriage was dissolved through a property
settlement agreement (Settlement Agreement). On June 17, 2011, Mother filed
a petition to modify custody and parenting time which was denied. On October
7, 2011, Mother requested a change of judge and additional parenting time. On
October 31, 2011, Mother filed a Notice of Appeal, to appeal the 2010 Custody
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Order and the Settlement Agreement. On February 29, 2012, Father filed a
motion to dismiss Mother’s appeal. On December 20, 2012, this court decided
that Mother’s appeal to the 2010 Custody Order and Settlement Agreement was
“untimely.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 162).
On June 19, 2013, Father filed a petition to modify parenting time. On June
25, 2013, Mother filed a request for a parenting time coordinator. On August 5,
2013, Father additionally filed a petition to modify child support. Also, on
March 3, 2014, Mother filed a motion to modify custody or parenting time.
Mother additionally filed a motion for recusal of judge and the appointment of
a special judge. On March 10, 2014, the matter was transferred to special judge
William Hughes (Judge Hughes). On March 26, 2014, a conference was held
to determine the pending issues. On May 12, 2014, after a hearing, the trial
court denied several motions, including Mother’s request for a parenting time
coordinator.
On June 24, 2014, the trial court heard Father’s petition to modify parenting
time and child support, and Mother’s petition to modify custody and parenting
time. On July 10, 2014, the trial court entered an order (2014 Modifying
Order), maintaining Father as the sole legal and primary physical custodian of
the Child. With regards to additional parenting time, the trial court determined
that the “implementation of first right of refusal under the Indiana Parenting
Time Guidelines has become so difficult,” therefore it “shall not apply.”
(Appellant App. Vol. II, p. 215). Further, the trial court also limited the parties’
phone calls to the Child, providing that each party is entitled to a single ten-
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minute “phone call per [24-hour] period. . . and no calls initiated to the [Child] .
. . between 7:00 P.M. and 7:00 A.M.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 215).
Mother’s midweek overnight parenting time was also eliminated, and Mother’s
midweek parenting time was reduced to three hours, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00
p.m. As for child support, the trial court noted that Father was employed at a
law firm making an annual salary of $92,000, or $1,775 per week. Mother was,
however, unemployed and a full-time doctoral student. Notwithstanding the
fact that Mother was unemployed, the trial court imputed an annual income of
$40,000, or $769 per week, to Mother. As such, the trial court ordered Mother
to pay weekly child support of $63.33 per week to Father.
Sometime after the 2014 Modification Order, Father left his employment and
began his own legal practice. Father’s annual income reduced from $92,000 to
about $35,000. On October 28, 2015, Mother tried to modify her weekly child
support obligation of $63.33. Arguments were heard on three separate days in
2016. On October 26, 2016, the trial court effectively denied Mother’s request
to change her weekly child support payment of $63.33; instead, it increased
Mother’s weekly support obligation to $131. In reaching that conclusion, the
trial court found Father’s testimony “persuasive” that his earning ability had
gone down to a weekly gross income of $677. (Appellee’s App. Vol. II, p. 5).
As for Mother, the trial court continued to impute Mother’s potential income as
$40,000, or $769 per week. Following that order in October 2016, Mother
obtained a job, and she currently works twenty hours a week with a base pay of
$8 an hour, or $160 per week.
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On December 2, 2016, Father filed a contempt petition against Mother for
nonpayment of child support. Two days later, on December 5, 2016, Mother
filed a petition seeking to reduce her child support obligation. The following
week, on December 12, 2016, Mother filed a motion for change of judge and
venue. On January 3, 2017, Mother filed a motion to modify legal custody and
parenting time, and for the appointment of a parenting time coordinator and a
Guardian Ad Litem (GAL). On February 7, 2017, Mother filed an emergency
motion for contempt regarding phone calls, texting, the right of first refusal, and
the sharing of school information. The trial court set all motions for a hearing.
On February 14, 2017, the trial court denied the Mother’s emergency motion
for contempt, along with previously filed motions to correct error.
On February 27, 2017, following a hearing, the trial court denied Mother’s
request for the appointment of a parenting time coordinator but granted her
request on the appointment of a GAL. On April 24, 2017, the trial court
appointed GAL Judy Hester (GAL Hester). On September 22, 2017, GAL
Hester filed her report with the trial court. Among other things, GAL Hester
recommended Father to remain the sole legal and primary physical custodian of
the Child; Mother’s midweek and alternating weekend parenting time to remain
unchanged; that both parties should limit their lunches at the Child’s school;
and that each parent have a single five minute phone call per day with the Child
on days when that parent has no parenting time.
Between May 2017 through January 2018, Mother’s petition to modify custody,
parenting time, and child support, along with Father’s contempt petition for
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nonpayment of child support, were heard on separate days with multiple
continuances. The final hearing was held on January 8, 2018. On February 27,
2018, the trial court entered an Order finding Mother in contempt for not
paying child support, denied Mother’s petition to modify child support; denied
Mother’s petition to modify custody and parenting time; and ordered Mother to
pay Father’s attorney fees. On March 22, 2018, Mother filed a motion to
correct error which was denied.
Mother now appeals. Additional facts will be provided as necessary.
DISCUSSION AND DECISION
I. Modification of Legal Custody
Mother claims that the trial court abused its discretion by denying her petition
to modify custody of the Child to a joint custody arrangement. We review
custody modifications for an abuse of discretion, with a “preference for granting
latitude and deference to our trial [courts].” Kirk v. Kirk, 770 N.E.2d 304, 307
(Ind. 2002). We will find an abuse of discretion if the trial court’s decision is
clearly against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it.
Haley v. Haley, 771 N.E.2d 743, 747 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). We do not reweigh
evidence or assess the credibility of witnesses, and we consider only the
evidence most favorable to the trial court’s decision. Id. The party seeking
modification bears the burden of proving that the existing custody order should
be altered. Id. To warrant reversal on appeal, the evidence “must positively
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require the conclusion contended for by [the] appellant.” Bettencourt v. Ford, 822
N.E.2d 989, 997 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
Under Indiana Code section 31-17-2-21, a court may not modify a child
custody order unless modification is in the child’s best interests and there is a
substantial change in one of the several factors. Indiana Code section 31-17-2-8
provides that the factors relevant to a custody order are as follows:
(1) The age and sex of the child.
(2) The wishes of the child’s parent or parents.
(3) The wishes of the child, with more consideration given to the
child’s wishes if the child is at least fourteen (14) years of age.
(4) The interaction and interrelationship of the child with:
(A) the child’s parent or parents;
(B) the child’s sibling; and
(C) any other person who may significantly affect the
child’s best interests.
(5) The child’s adjustment to the child’s:
(A) home;
(B) school; and
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(C) community.
(6) The mental and physical health of all individuals involved.
(7) Evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence by either
parent.
(8) Evidence that the child has been cared for by a [de facto]
custodian . . .
With respect to legal custody, the welfare of the children, not the wishes and
desires of the parents, is the primary concern of the courts. Carmichael v. Siegel,
754 N.E.2d 619, 635 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001). Further, stability is a crucial factor
which trial courts must take into account when determining the best interests of
a child in the context of a custody modification. Harris v. Smith, 752 N.E.2d
1283, 1288 (Ind. Ct. App. 2001).
On appeal, Mother does not allege that a substantial change has taken place
with regard to the statutory factors set forth in Indiana Code section 31-17-2-8;
instead, Mother merely argues that Father failed to act in the Child’s best
interest on matters affecting the Child’s medical care, and education.
First, Mother asserts that Father, who has sole legal custody of the Child, had
instructed the school nurse not to contact her in case of a medical emergency.
Mother does not comprehend the responsibilities delegated to a parent who has
sole legal custody, which includes the making of unfettered decisions
concerning a child’s education, health care, and religious training.
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Furthermore, there is no notation from the trial court’s initial 2010 Custody
Order, or in the 2014 Modification Order, that Father’s decisions on matters
affecting the Child’s medical care was somehow restricted. Moreover, in the
Order in which Mother now appeals, the trial court ordered Father “to inform
the school that Mother can authorize over-the-counter medication at the school,
when the school nurse is supervising a medical situation with [the Child], if
Father cannot be reached to give that authorization.” (Appellant’s App. Vol.
II, p. 130).
Mother also argues that the award of a joint legal custody arrangement was
imperative since Father had improperly influenced the Child. Here, Mother
contends that Father led the Child to believe that she was incapable of
supervising the Child’s homework. We find Mother’s contention wholly
unsupported by the evidence. Father informed GAL Hester that he always
ensured the Child’s homework was done before Mother picked up the Child for
her midweek parenting time on Wednesday. While interviewing the Child,
GAL Hester explored the idea of the Child going straight to Mother’s home on
Wednesday after school and doing his homework at Mother’s house. GAL
Hester noted that the Child gave “a quick negative response” and the Child
further expressed that he would “go back to having trouble getting his
homework done in a timely manner.” (Appellant’s Exh. Vol. II, p. 13). Based
on the Child’s reaction, GAL Hester concluded that it was in the Child’s “best
interest to study” with Father rather than with Mother. (Appellant’s Exh. Vol.
II, p. 13). Also, the Child’s third grade teacher informed GAL Hester that
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Father was keen on the Child’s homework. Mother did not present any
evidence that Father had expressly conveyed to the Child that she was inept in
helping the Child with his homework; rather, the only evidence supporting
Mother’s argument is the Child’s innocent expression that he would end up
being tardy on completing his homework if Mother was left to supervise.
Moreover, “[W]e have held that ‘if the parties have made child-rearing a
battleground, then joint custody is not appropriate.’” Carmichael, 754 N.E.2d at
635 (quoting Periquet-Febres v. Febres, 659 N.E.2d 602, 605 (Ind. Ct. App. 1995),
trans. denied.). The issue in determining whether joint legal custody is
appropriate is not the parties’ respective parenting skills, but their ability to
work together for the best interests of their children. Carmichael, 754 N.E.2d at
635. We note that in the initial 2010 Custody Order, the trial court awarded
Father sole legal custody of the Child due to the ongoing conflict between the
parties. In the 2014 Modification Order, the trial court continued Father’s role
as the sole legal custodian. The record is replete with evidence of the parties’
inability to effectively communicate and cooperate concerning the Child’s
upbringing. Finally, we note that keeping Father’s role as sole legal custodian
ensures stability to the Child. Since the Child was two years old, he has been in
Father’s care, Father has been the parent who oversees and makes legal
decisions related to the Child and to alter whatever processes or procedures
Father has in place would undoubtedly result in some changes that would
impact the Child. Based on the foregoing, the record amply supports the trial
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court’s position to keep sole legal custody of the Child with Father, therefore,
we find no abuse of discretion.
II. Modification of Parenting Time
In all parenting time controversies, courts are required to give foremost
consideration to the best interests of the child. A.G.R. ex rel. Conflenti v. Huff,
815 N.E.2d 120, 125 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004), trans. denied. When reviewing the
trial court’s resolution of a parenting time issue, we reverse only when the trial
court manifestly abused its discretion. Id. We will not reweigh evidence or
reassess the credibility of witnesses. Id. Rather, we view the record in the light
most favorable to the trial court’s decision to determine whether the evidence
and reasonable inferences therefrom support the trial court’s decision. See id. If
the record reveals a rational basis for supporting the trial court’s determination,
no abuse of discretion occurred. Id. We generally give “considerable deference
to the findings of the trial court in family law matters” as a reflection that the
trial court is in the best position to judge the facts and to get a sense of the
parents and their relationship with the children—the kind of qualities that
appellate courts would be in a difficult position to assess. Shelton v. Shelton, 835
N.E.2d 513, 516 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005).
“A parent not granted custody of the child is entitled to reasonable parenting
time rights unless the court finds, after a hearing, that parenting time by the
noncustodial parent might endanger the child’s physical health or significantly
impair the child’s emotional development.” Ind. Code § 31-17-4-2. Although
section 31-17-4-2 uses the phrase “might endanger,” we have previously held
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the language to mean that a trial court “may not restrict parenting time unless
that parenting time ‘would’ endanger” the child’s health or emotional
development. D.B. v. M.B.V., 913 N.E.2d 1271, 1274-75 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009).
Mother argues that the trial court abused its discretion by (1) limiting her
communication with the Child via phone; (2) reducing her involvement at the
Child’s school; and (3) denying her an opportunity for additional parenting
time.
A. Limited Calls to the Child
Parenting Time Guidelines § I A (3) provides in pertinent part that:
Both parents shall have reasonable phone access to their child at all
times. Telephone communication with the child by either parent to
the residence where the child is located shall be conducted at
reasonable hours, shall be of reasonable duration, and at reasonable
intervals, without interference from the other parent.
Here, the trial court ordered that
Each parent is to have no more than one [five-minute] phone call
each day with [the Child] on days when that parent has no
parenting time with [the Child]. That phone call is to be placed
between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Each parent may have one text
with [the Child] on any given day, with that text to be placed
between 12:00 noon and 7:00 p.m.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 130). Mother argues that the trial court abused its
discretion by limiting her communication with the Child via phone.
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Turning to the record, in her report, GAL Hester wrote, in relevant part,
“Mother’s position is that she must have contact with [the Child] every day . . .
At the same time, one of Father’s biggest concerns is that Mother’s telephone
calls and texting [] are unreasonably intrusive and detrimental” to the Child.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 166). GAL Hester added that the “frequency,
length, and timing of the calls and text” to Child were significantly more when
the Child was in Father’s care. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 166). GAL Hester
continued, “[f]rom Father’s perspective, [the Child] is talkative on the phone
with everyone he talks to except with Mother.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p.
166) (italics in original). Based on her findings, GAL Hester concluded that
while she appreciated Mother’s desire to talk with the Child on a daily basis,
“in the current situation where the parties do not live together and do not get
along, as recognized by [the Child], it is not in [the Child’s] best emotional
interest to force that situation.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 175). As such,
GAL Hester recommended that either party should be allowed to have a single
five-minute “phone call per day with [the Child] on days when” either party
“has no parenting time” with the Child. (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 176).
During the hearing, GAL Hester reiterated her recommendation of limiting the
parties’ phone calls to the Child to five minutes. When asked if she agreed with
GAL Hester’s recommendation, Mother passionately stated “No” and added,
“I don’t think limiting another parent’s phone calls is the solution. I think if
you want a solution to it, then you give the other parent some more parenting
time.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 84). In turn, Father argued, “[Y]ou know, five minutes is
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more than enough time. I don’t ever really exceed five minutes myself, so I am
fine with it.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 225).
“[A]ppellate courts ‘are in a poor position to look at a cold transcript of the
record, and conclude that the trial judge, who saw the witnesses, observed their
demeanor, and scrutinized their testimony as it came from the witness stand,
did not properly understand the significance of the evidence.’” D.C. v. J.A.C.,
977 N.E.2d 951, 956-57 (Ind. 2012). We reiterate that we “shall not set aside
the findings or judgment unless clearly erroneous,” and “[f]indings are clearly
erroneous only when the record contains no facts to support them either
directly or by inference. Id at 953.
We note that some of the relevant factors placed before the trial court are in
equipoise. Both Mother and Father are loving and good parents. However,
both have divergent views about the amount of time the other should spend on
the phone talking to the Child at the end of the day. For instance, Father
informed GAL Hester that Mother would drop off the Child at 7:00 p.m. on
Wednesday after her midweek parenting time, and Mother would call at
“around 7:15 [p.m.] and insists on talking with [the Child] for 15 minutes.”
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 166). At the hearing, Father testified that five
minutes was enough time to talk to the Child, while Mother was opposed to
any sort of limitation. Here, however, looking only to the evidence and all
inferences favorable to the judgment, giving due regard to the opportunity of
the trial court to personally observe the witnesses, and refraining from the
substitution of our view for that of the trial court, we find that the evidence is
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not lacking as to render the trial court’s judgment, limiting Mother’s phone calls
to the child, erroneous.
B. Mother’s Involvement at the Child’s School
Mother next challenges the trial court’s Order limiting her involvement at the
Child’s school. Parenting Time G.I (D)(3) provides, in relevant part, that “A
parent shall not interfere with the opportunity of the other parent to volunteer
for or participate in a child’s activities.”
From her interaction with the Child’s fourth grade teacher, GAL Hester
discovered that Mother goes to the Child’s school “almost daily.” (Appellant’s
App. Vol. II, p. 170). According to the Child’s fourth-grade teacher, Mother
“volunteers for everything, comes to every event, and then has lunch with the
Child in the school lunch room several times a week.” (Appellant’s App. Vol.
II, p. 170). The Child’s fourth-grade teacher opined that Mother’s visits
impeded the Child’s “ability to socially interact with his peers.” (Appellant’s
App. Vol. II, p. 170). Based on her findings, GAL Hester recommended that
both parties should limit their involvement at the Child’s school in order to
“give [the Child] time to work on social relationships with his peers and to
understand that his parents know he is capable of handling himself during the
school day and is not a baby.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 176).
GAL Hester offered testimony that the Child’s only friends were at school, and
the Child “truly enjoys being with his friends.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 13). Mother
testified that she went to the Child’s school at least three times a week, and that
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she volunteered at the school library and lunchroom “whenever” her schedule
allowed. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 123). Father consequently testified that Child is
getting at that age where, you know, it was fun a few years ago
for having a parent come there, but you know, as you get older,
you know there’s kind of a stigma amongst your friends that oh,
your parent is coming. I mean I used to go to lunch a few times
a year and I thought that was reasonable. I don’t do it anyone
[sic]. One, because she’s there all the time and then two, I feel
like he needs to have that space. You know, he’s around his
friends. Let him have that space.
(Tr. Vol. II, p. 223). On this issue, the trial court ordered:
Both parties are to limit lunches with [the Child] at school,
and/or bringing lunches to school at lunch time, to no more
often than twice each month. Neither parent is to volunteer at
the school in [the Child’s] classroom, though each can volunteer
in other capacities at the school. The [c]ourt finds these
recommendations of the [GAL] to be particularly appropriate in
that they should allow [the Child] to, along with his participation
in after-school care, develop and establish same-age relationships
and appropriate behavior within those relationships.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, pp. 129-130). Contrary to Mother’s claim that the
trial court abused its discretion by limiting her presence at the Child’s school,
the Order restricted both parties. Moreover, the trial court explained that
limiting the parents’ involvement at the Child’s school would enable the Child
to thrive at school and develop a positive and meaningful relationship with his
friends. Here, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by
limiting Mother’s participation at the Child’s school.
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C. Opportunity for Additional Parenting Time
Mother contends that the trial court abused its discretion by denying her an
opportunity for additional parenting time “when the [C]hild gets out of school
and before [Father] is home from work instead of the [C]hild being in after
school care.” (Appellant’s Br. p. 27).
The Guidelines “are based on the premise that it is usually in a child’s best
interest to have frequent, meaningful and continuing contact with each parent.”
Parenting Time Guidelines Preamble. Accordingly, the Guidelines provide:
When it becomes necessary that a child be cared for by a person
other than a parent or a responsible household family member,
the parent needing the child care shall first offer the other parent
the opportunity for additional parenting time, if providing the
child care by the other parent is practical considering the time
available and the distance between residences. The other parent
is under no obligation to provide the child care. If the other
parent elects to provide this care, it shall be done at no cost and
without affecting child support. The parent exercising additional
parenting time shall provide the necessary transportation unless
the parties otherwise agree.
Parenting Time G.I (C)(3). Often “mistakenly referred to as the ‘right of first
refusal[,]’ “this section more accurately provides “an opportunity to exercise
additional parenting time.” Parenting Time G. I(C)(3) cmt. In the instant case,
the trial court concluded that the Child “is to remain in after-school care in
accordance with the current parenting time schedule with no opportunity for
additional parenting time to be offered.” (Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 129).
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The issue of additional parenting time was addressed in 2014, and it is evident
from the 2014 Modification Order that the trial court eliminated that option due
to the conflict between the parties. Specifically, the trial court held that the
“implementation of first right of refusal under the Indiana Parenting Time
Guidelines has become so difficult,” therefore it “shall not apply.” (Appellant
App. Vol. II, p. 215). Indeed, Father testified that the issue of more parenting
time has been highly contentious over the years, and “it just causes nightmares
and, you know, opening that door back up is [] just going to be a pain. I don’t
think it benefits anybody.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 222). When asked to explain his
statement, Father stated that there were “so many problems” with additional
parenting time, and that conflict affected the Child and led him to develop
“behavioral” problems. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 222). Father added that after the trial
court ended the possibility of additional parenting time and the Child began
attending aftercare school, the Child’s behavioral problems “went away.” (Tr.
Vol. II, p. 223). Also, Father alluded to the fact that Mother did not have
enough time to exercise more parenting time in the evenings since Mother
worked part-time and was a full-time doctoral student.
Contrary to Mother’s argument that the trial court abused its discretion by
denying her an opportunity for additional parenting time when Father is
unavailable, Mother testified, “I don’t have a problem with the [after-school]
program. What I have a problem is . . . if . . . he’s only going because [] I can’t
do [] his homework with him. But if he’s going because of the [] friends, that’s
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not a problem with me. I am okay doing that. But I would still like to have
extra time with him.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 80).
Based on the facts and circumstances before us, we conclude that the trial court
did not patently abuse its discretion by denying Mother an opportunity for
additional parenting time when Father is unavailable.
IV. Modification of Child Support Obligation
Mother argues that the trial court abused its discretion by failing to modify her
Child support obligation of $131 per week. Generally, decisions regarding child
support rest within the sound discretion of the trial court. Painter v. Painter, 773
N.E.2d 281, 282 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). We will reverse a trial court’s decision
in child support matters only for an abuse of discretion or if the trial court’s
decision is contrary to law. Id. An abuse of discretion occurs when the trial
court’s decision is against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances
before it. Burke v. Burke, 809 N.E.2d 896, 898 (Ind. Ct. App. 2004).
Child support orders may be modified based upon the following statutory
guidelines:
(1) upon a showing of changed circumstances so substantial and
continuing as to make the terms unreasonable; or
(2) upon a showing that:
(A) a party has been ordered to pay an amount in child support
that differs by more than twenty percent (20%) from the amount
that would be ordered by applying the child support guidelines;
Court of Appeals of Indiana | Memorandum Decision 18A-DR-821 | December 5, 2018 Page 20 of 29
***
I.C. § 31-16-8-1.
On appeal, Mother’s main argument is that the trial court abused its discretion
by failing to consider her new income of $160 as a changed circumstance,
thereby making the $131 which she currently pays in child support,
unreasonable.
On October 28, 2015, Mother sought to modify her weekly child support
obligation of $63.33. Arguments were heard on three separate days in 2016.
On October 26, 2016, the trial court effectively denied Mother’s request to
modify her weekly child support payment of $63.33; instead, the trial court
increased Mother’s child support obligation to $131. In reaching that
conclusion, the trial court found Father’s testimony “persuasive” and that his
weekly gross income had decreased from $1,775 to $677. (Appellee’s App. Vol.
II, p. 5). Mother was still unemployed, and the trial court continued to impute
Mother’s potential annual income at $40,000 or $769 per week.
It is well established that changes in employment and relative financial
resources of the parties have been held sufficient to support a modification in
child support. Walters v. Walters, 901 N.E.2d 508, 511 (Ind. Ct. App. 2009); see
also Harris v. Harris, 800 N.E.2d 930, 938 (Ind. Ct. App. 2003), trans. denied.
Following the October 2016 support order, Mother obtained a job and currently
works twenty hours a week with a base pay of $8 an hour or $160 per week.
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Mother, who has two daughters in college, receives weekly child support
payments of $165 from her daughters’ father; however, Mother testified that she
spends $647.47 per week to support them. In support of her weekly legal
support obligation of $647.47 for her prior born daughters, Mother offered a
financial declaration form.
Given that Mother offered testimony of her changed income, we conclude that
the trial court’s denial of Mother’s petition to modify her child support
obligation, was an abuse of discretion. Accordingly, we reverse that portion of
the Order, and we remand for further proceedings. 1
IV. Contempt: Child Support Arrearage
Mother claims that the trial court erred by finding her in contempt for not
paying her child support arrearage. To hold a party in contempt for violating a
court order, the trial court must find that the party acted with “willful
disobedience.” Himes v. Himes, 57 N.E.3d 820, 829 (Ind. Ct. App. 2016), trans.
denied. With respect to child support, “[s]imply establishing the existence and
knowledge of an arrearage may not amount to a ‘willful disregard of a court
1
Mother also argues that the trial court erred by not awarding her credit for her two prior-born daughters.
Because we are remanding to the trial court for further proceedings, we believe Mother’s issue should be
addressed then. Accordingly, we need not discuss this issue on appeal.
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order.’” Id. (quoting Sutton v. Sutton, 773 N.E.2d 289, 297 (Ind. Ct. App.
2002)). The trial court must also find that the party had the ability to pay the
child support. Woodward v. Norton, 939 N.E.2d 657, 662 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
We will reverse the trial court’s finding of contempt where an abuse of
discretion has been shown, which occurs only when the trial court’s decision is
against the logic and effect of the facts and circumstances before it. Marks v.
Tolliver, 839 N.E.2d 703, 707 (Ind. Ct. App. 2005). When we review a
contempt order, we neither reweigh the evidence nor judge the credibility of the
witnesses. Id. The party in contempt bears the burden of demonstrating that
her acts were not “willful.” Emery v. Sautter, 788 N.E.2d 856, 859 (Ind. Ct. App.
2003).
Through the October 26, 2016, Support Order, the trial court imputed annual
income of $40,000, or $769 per week, to Mother. Accordingly, the trial court
ordered Mother to pay weekly child support of $131. On December 2, 2016,
Father filed a petition, arguing that Mother should be held in contempt for not
paying her child support. During 2017 and through January 2018, evidentiary
hearings were conducted on the parties’ pending motions and petitions
including Father’s contempt motion against Mother. The last hearing was
conducted on January 8, 2018. Father presented Exhibit 5 which was a
computation of Mother’s child support arrearage:
CHILD SUPPORT ARREARAGE
Order Modifying Child Support issued on October 26, 2016:
First Friday after Order (10/28/16) to January 5, 2018= 62
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weeks
62 weeks x $131.00= $8,122.00 (Child Support Owed)
Child Support Paid from 10/31/16 to 9/19/17= $5,471.43
(Payment History Printout)
Child Support Paid from 10/4/17 to 1/8/18= $1,370.00 (Bank
records)
***
Arrearage Calculation from 10/28/16 to 1/8/18:
$8,122.00 - $5,471.43 - $1,370.00= $1,280.57
Arrearage Calculation from 10/26/16 Order retroactive to
10/30/15:
Prior Child Support Amount= $63.00/wk.
Modified Child Support Amount= $131.00/wk.
Difference: $131.00 - $63.00= $68.00/wk.
Total Number of Weeks from 10/30/15 to 10/26/16= 51
weeks
Arrearage: $68.00 x 51= $3,468.00
Arrearage from 7/10/14 Order to 10/26/16 Order:
Arrearage per 7/10/14 Order-$3,087.00
Arrearage remaining as of 10/26/16 Order= $2,345.00
(Reduced to Judgment)
TOTAL ARREARAGE (from 7/10/14 Order to 1/8/18)
$1,280.57 + $3,468.00 + $2,345.00= $7,093.57
(Exhibit 5). In the Order finding Mother in contempt, the trial court found that
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The Court finds that Mother has the ability to pay her child
support obligations. In addition to working part time, she
apparently has the time and resources to spend working on her
dissertation, and she apparently has time and resources sufficient
to travel to audition for movies, and to travel extensively for
enjoyment and/or other personal reasons. During the less than
nine months beginning May 2017, and continuing only through
the first eight days of January, 2018, she made four or five trips
to Boston, Massachusetts, two or three to New York, two to
Florida, one to Arizona, California, Las Vegas and Oklahoma,
one to Indiana Beach, one to the Dominican Republic, and one
to Barcelona, Spain. There is an extensive record, as well, of the
out-of-state and out of country travels which she made which
precede in time the time period just described.
The Court additionally finds that Mother has willfully
disregarded her obligations to pay child support. Calculated only
through January 8, 2018, she has a total arrearage in the amount
of $7,093.57, which she has not paid.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 128).
At the hearing, Father presented an updated list of Mother’s 39 out-of-town
trips from 2014 through 2018. Several of those trips were international trips to
Mexico, Brazil, Aruba, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Spain. While
Father acknowledged that some of Mother’s trips were work-related, Father
testified that most of them were “personal” trips. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 223). In turn,
Mother asserted that her fiancé, (Fiancé), and her sister (Sister) financed all of
her trips. For instance, Mother claimed that Fiancé paid for the Spain trip since
it was her “birthday month.” (Tr. Vol. II, p. 136). Mother similarly stated that
the trip to Dominican Republic was paid for by Fiancé. Mother, who was born
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in Boston, stated that she had travelled several times to Boston to see her family
and one time to attend a funeral. Mother had also travelled to North Carolina
for a funeral. Mother, who is an actress, further explained that some of her
local trips to New York and Chicago, were for auditions. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 138).
In light of the conflicting evidence presented by the parties regarding Mother’s
trips as a sign of ability to comply with the October 26, 2016, support order, and
the trial court’s role as the finder of fact, we are not left with a firm and definite
belief that a mistake was made by the trial court. Accordingly, we conclude
that the trial court did not abuse its discretion in finding Mother to be in
contempt of the October 26, 2016 child support order.
IV. Attorney Fees.
Mother argues that the trial court abused its discretion by directing her to pay
$14,000 of Father’s attorney fees. According to Indiana Code section 31-17-7-1,
the court may order a party to pay a reasonable amount for the cost of the other
party maintaining an action for custody modification and for attorney fees and
mediation services. Haley v. Haley, 771 N.E.2d 743, 745 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002).
The trial court has broad discretion in awarding attorney fees. In re Marriage of
Bartley, 712 N.E.2d 537, 546 (Ind. Ct. App. 1999). We will reverse the trial
court’s decision to award attorney fees only if the decision is clearly against the
logic and effect of the facts and circumstances. Id. When determining whether
an award of attorney fees is appropriate, the court may consider such factors as
the resources of the parties, the relative earning ability of the parties, and other
factors which bear on the reasonableness of the award. Id. Any misconduct on
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the part of one party which causes the other party to directly incur additional
fees may be taken into consideration. Meade v. Levett, 671 N.E.2d 1172, 1179
(Ind. Ct. App. 1996). When one party is in a superior position to pay fees over
the other party, an award of attorney fees is proper. Bartley, 712 N.E.2d at 546.
In directing Mother to pay Father’s legal fees, the trial court stated:
The [c]ourt agrees with Father’s counsel that there has been no
change in circumstance substantial enough to justify any
modification of child support, custody or parenting time. The
[c]ourt tends to agree with counsel’s statement that the only
change in the case is the change of the judge deciding the issues.
That being the case, the [c]ourt finds it appropriate to award
attorney fees to Father.
The [c]ourt ORDERS Mother to pay Father’s attorney fees, in
the amount of $14,000.00, as same are attributable only to the six
Motions and Petitions filed and argued in this case since
December 2, 2016.
(Appellant’s App. Vol. II, p. 229). We find that the trial court’s order is devoid
of any discussion of the pertinent factors such as Mother’s financial resources,
her relative earning ability, the reasonableness of the attorney fees award, or
misconduct on Mother’s part. Bartley, 712 N.E.2d at 546. However, the order
reveals that the trial court based its decision on the six litigation events that
occurred on and after December 2, 2016.
During his closing arguments, Father’s counsel argued that Mother’s numerous
filings has been the “[modus operandi]” since the parties’ divorce. (Tr. Vol. II, p.
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246). Father’s counsel added, “[W]hen [Mother] gets an order she doesn’t
appreciate, doesn’t approve of, doesn’t like, she exercises her constitutional
right to modify - move to modify the order and/or move to appeal it, but . .
.[Father] is entitled to ask” for attorney fees. (Tr. Vol. II, p. 246). In addition,
Father tendered into evidence an affidavit from his counsel averring that
between December 2016 and January 2018, Father had incurred “$10,427.00”
in legal fees to address the multiple motions filed by Mother. (Appellant’s Exh.
Vol. II, p. 37).
Turning to the record, we note that on December 2, 2016, Father filed his
contempt petition against Mother for unpaid child support payments. On
December 5, 2016, Mother responded by filing a petition to modify her child
support obligation. The following week, on December 12, 2016, Mother filed a
motion for change of judge and venue. On January 3, 2017, Mother filed a
motion to modify legal custody and parenting time and for the appointment of
a parenting time coordinator and a GAL. On February 7, 2017, Mother filed
an emergency motion for contempt regarding phone calls, texting, the right of
first refusal, and the sharing of school information. On February 14, 2017, the
trial court denied the Mother’s emergency motion for contempt, along with
previously filed motions to correct error.
While we note that Mother was successful in her motion to change the judge
and the appointment of a GAL, Mother persisted in filing motions seeking to
achieve the same result, and Father presented evidence of the legal fees he has
incurred since December 2016. Mindful of the trial court’s discretion in
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awarding attorney’s fees and Mother’s numerous filings, we cannot say that the
trial court improperly granted Father an award of attorney’s fees.
CONCLUSION
Based on the foregoing, we conclude that the trial court did not abuse its
discretion in denying Mother’s petition to modify custody and parenting time.
Also, we hold that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by ordering
Mother to pay Father’s attorney fees. However, considering Mother presented
evidence of her change in income, we hold that the trial court abused its
discretion in denying Mother’s petition to modify her child support obligation;
therefore, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded.
Vaidik, C. J. and Kirsch, J. concur
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